Commutator for telephonic or other circuits.



PATBNTED MAR s, '1904. c. H. PRTT.

4 SHEETS-BENT 1.

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COIIIIIMITTLYIOR POR TELEPHONIC O'R OTHER CIRCUITS.

' APPLIoATIoN FILED JUN; 14. 1902.

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No. 754,011. .PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904,

o. H. PRQTT. coMMUTAToR PoR TELBPHONIG o R OTHER CIRCUITS.

v APPLIoATIoN FILED JUNE 14. 1902. No MODEL. 4 snnnssnnn 2.

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."c. H. PRTT. 'GOMMUTATUR Pon TELEPHONIQUE OTHER CIRCUITS.

APPLloATIoN FILED JUNE 14. 1902.

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COMMUTA'IOR FOR TELEPHONIC 0R CVIHER CIRCUITS. APPLIOATIpN FILED JUNE14. 1902. No MODEL. 4 smug-SHEET 4'.

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UNITED STATES 'Patented March 8, 1904.

CARL HEINRICH PRTT, OF RHEYDT, GERMANY.

COMIVIUTATOR FOR TELEPHONIC OR OTHER CIRCUITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. I754,011, dated March8, 1904.

Application led June 14, 1902l To all whom` it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL HEINRICH PRTT, a citizen of the German Empire,residing at Rheydt, in the Province of Rhenish Prussia, Kingdom ofPrussia, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCommutators for Telephonie or other Circuits; and

, I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

.naling systems, and elsewhere will be equally manifest.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of acommutator embodying my invention intended for use with a telephonicsystem. Fig. 2 represents the same, the front cover being removed. Fig.3

represents a vertical section on the line I I of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is adiagram of a telephonie system provided with commutators embodying myinvention. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are views similar to Fig. 2, showing thecommutatorcam in its three chief operative positions.

To an insulating baseplate 1 two metal plates are attached, one of these(marked 2) being electrically connected to the terminal or binding screw4 of the main line ct, while the other, 3, is similarly connected to aterminal 5 of a grounded Wire these conductors being indicated by dottedlines in Figs. 2, 5, 6

and 7. Plate-springs 8 and 9 are attached at one end to plates 2 and 3,their construction and attachment being such as to put their free endsunder stress, tending to move toward each other. Four similar thoughshorter springs 10, 11, 12, and 13 arearranged in pairs with the saidsprings 8 and 9, a shorter spring of each pair being on each side ofeach longer spring, the upper ends of springs 10, 11, 12,

serial No. 111,632. (no model.)

of short springs aforesaid, the two outer plates 2O and 21 beingextended inwardly nearly to the inner short springs 10 and 12 andprovided with contacts 42 43, presented toward these springs,respectively, while the inner plates 26 27 have similar contactspresented toward the said springs on the opposite sides thereof. Theouter plates 20 and 2l are also provided with contacts 18 and 19,presentedv outwardly to the outer springs 10 and 13. In the normalposition of the springs 8 and 9 the outer springs 10 and 13 are in touchwith contacts 18 and 19 of plates 20 and 21, while the long springs 8and 9 press the inner short springs 11 and 12 against the contacts 24and 25 of the inner plates 26 and 27.

Plates 14 and 17 are wired, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7, tobinding posts or terminals 28 and 29 of the telephonic receivercircuit.`The plates 20 and 21 are similarly connected by wires (indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 2) to binding-posts 32 and 33 of houselines f, f2,f3, and j4 and grounded wire c', and the plates 26 and 27 are connectedby wires (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6) to binding-posts 34 and35 of main line 8 and grounded wire The insulated commutator-cam 37isinounted for partially rotating with a stud or shaft 36 and is ofelongated shape. When in vertical position, it does not touch thesprings 8 9; but when turned ninety degrees, as lshown in Fig. 7, itsoperative ends will bear against the said springs and force them apart'until the bosses 38 aforesaid spring into corresponding recesses 39 inthe said cam, locking the said springs in position. The above'-mentioned spreading apart of springs 8 and 9 causes them to press theircontacts 40 and 41 100 against the springs 10 and 13, moving the latteraway from the plates 20 and 21. The inner short springs 1l and l2 aresimultaneously freed from contact with springs 8 and 9, and theirresiliency causes them to bear against contacts 42 43 of plates 2O and2l.

An electromagnet 44, mounted on the baseplate aforesaid, has an armature45, pivoted to a stud 46 and retracted by a spring 47, a stop 48limiting its withdrawal. When the commutator-cam 37 has turnedforty-five degrees, Fig. 6, a projection 49 of said cam falls into arecess 50 of the said armature, the latter being then withdrawn from themagnet and the magnet not energized, and the said cam is held in thisposition thereby. A spring 52, connected to an arm 5l of cam 37,restores the latter to its normal vertical position, Fig. 2, as soon asthe magnet is energized by bringing its helices into circuit, and thearmature consequently withdrawn from engagement with projection 49.rI`his spring 5l is prevented from acting when the commutator-cam isturned far enough for the bosses 38 to enter the recesses 39, Fig. 7, asbefore described. Fixed stops 53, set in position to be struck byprojection 49, limit the' rotary movement of the said cam in eitherdirection.

Above the hub 37 of the cam 37 and below the springs 8 and 9 are locatedtwo .similar transverse springs 54 and 55, fixed at the left end toplates 56 and 57, their free ends tending to come together, but beingheld apart by an insulating-block 58. The lower spring 54 is therebyheld normally against the said hub and the contact 59 of a fixed plate60.

When the commutator-cam 37 is turned forty-five degrees, Fig. 6, a bosson hub 37 1, formed, preferably, by a screw-head 6l, raises the springs54 and 55, bringing the spring 54 into contact with the projection 62 ofplate 63, connected by a wire (shownby a dotted line in Fig. 6) to abinding-post in electrical connection with the positive pole of themicrophone-battery of the station, while the upper horizontal spring 55presses against the contact 64 of another fixed plate, 65, similarlyconnected by a wire (indicated by dotted line) to binding-post 7 O,having an electrical connection with the negative pole of saidmicrophone-battery.

The plate 56 is connected by wires (shown in dotted lines) to one end ofthe magnet-lielix and also to binding-post 67, whence runs a wire p tothe main wire, another wire, 0, from said main wire being connected tobinding-post 68, which again is connected by a wire (shown in dottedline) to the other end of the magnet-helix wire. Consequently when thetwo horizontal springs are lifted into the position shown by Fig. 6 acircuit is completed throughthe magnet 44 and also through theInicrophone-battery.v

When the commutator-cam is turned ninety degrees into the position shownin Fig. 7 a

' second and lower boss 66 on the hub 37 a comes against spring 54,lifting it and spring 55 into an intermediate position, in which contactwith the parts 59, 62, and 64 is interrupted. The wires indicated bydotted lines in the respective figures are located in a space betweenthe base-plate and a lower board 7l attached thereto, as shown in Fig.3.

The commutator is provided with a cover 73, through which passes thestud or shaft 36, having a handle 74 for turning the commutator-cam 37,which moves with said stud, the position of the handle of' courseshowing the position of the said cam. To make this plainer, suitablecharacters may be marked on the cover corresponding to these positions.A hammer 75, connected to handle 74, strikes a fixed bell `76 when thecommutator-cam reaches its normal position.

In Fig. 4 the successive substations of-a telephonie system having acentral station (not shown) are indicated by I II III IV, each having acommutator and telephone. The main wire a is interrupted at eachstation, being thereby divided into sections which connect thesuccessive commutators by being attached to binding-posts 4-and 34 ofthe base-plates.

It ends at the binding-post 4 of the base-plate of' the commutator ofthe last station IV. The ground-wire begins at binding-post 5 of thefirst intermediate station, and its sections in like manner connect thebinding-posts 5 35 of the successive commutator base-plates. .I ustbeyond the commutator of station IV the said wire is grounded at CZ.This station IV is the main substation, which is first called from thecentral station and controls the calls to stations I, II, and III.

The main substation IV is provided with a call-bell connectedelectrically by short wires to a pair of binding-posts 30 and 3l. Forthe several stations house-lines f', f 2, f3, and f* are provided, eachbeing connected by a branch wire g to the binding-post 32 of thecommutator of its station. Binding-posts 33 in proximity to thebinding-posts 32 of the several stations are connected by wires /L tothe ground-wirez' or directly and independently to the ground.Plug-boards for the several stations are provided with wires Z, arrangedin sets of three for each board and connected to the said house-lines,as follows: the three wires l of station I to wires f2, f3, and j, thethree wires l of station II to f', f3, and ff, the three wires lofstation III to wires f f2, and ff, and the three wires Z of station IVto wires f f2, and f3. From each plug-board c a wire runs to a shortwire connecting the telephone-case m of that station with a binding-post28 of its commutator base-blate, and from a proximate binding-post 29 ofsaid basepiate another wire runs to the said telephonecase. Another wireextends from said case to microphone-battery n and another wire backtherefrom to the wire leading to binding-post IOO IIO

29. From the two Wires of the said battery (as last mentioned) shortWires extend to proximate binding-screws 69 and 70 of the commutatorbase-plate. To avoid multiplicity and confusion of characters, the Wiresentering the telephone-case and the battery a have not been lettered. Ithas also been thought unnecessary to show the interior construction ofthe telephonie apparatus, as I claim no novelty therein, but may use anyknown construction. Of course there must be electrical connectionthrough the inclosed parts of the instruments. A Wire O connectsthebinding-post 68 of each commutator to the binding-post 67 of the next,andthe binding-post 67 of station I and binding-post 68 of station IVare connected by wires p to grounded Wire t" aforesaid or directly toground. The various binding-posts are electrically connected by theconducting-plates and movable parts of the commutator already described,according to the positions of the commutator-cam,

completing the circuits with and through the various external conductorsabove described. The immediate source of electrical current is the mainWire, and it returns through the earth, as above indicated, though,ofcourse, areturn- Wire may be substituted. This system Will naturallybe used with a central station, but does not absolutely require it,since the station IV may be used as an independentV controlling-stationreceiving messages from any source.

If substation II, Jfor example, desires to communicate with the centralstation, the

Acommutator-cam of said substation is turned into the position shown inFig. 7. The circuit Will then be from the central station along the mainWire, through the conducting parts 4, 2, 8, 22,11, 24, 26, and 34, Fig.5, of the intervening inactive stations I and in the active stations II,through the parts 4, 2, 8, 10, and 14 to the binding-post 28 of the saidactive station, thence through the transmitter to the bindingpost 29 ofsaid station II, thence through the conducting parts 17, 13, 41, 9, 3,and 5 and the parts 35, 27, 25, 12, 23, 9, 3, 5 of the commutator ofthe'inactive station I, through the grounded Wire 6 of said binding-post5 to the earth, and so back to the central station. tral station firstcalls the main substation IV, causing the bell to ring, thesignaling-circuit thus closed being merely from the central stationthrough main Wire a and intervening connections to binding-post 30,thence through the bell to binding-post 31, and thence throughintervening connections to bindingpost 5, Wire and ground-Wire d,returning through the earth to the central station. During thisoperation the commutator-cam of main substation IV and parts controlledthereby are in the normal position (shown in Fig. 2) and the parts 4, 2,8, 22, 11, 15, 16, 12, 23, 9, l3, 5,218 Well as those above mentioned,are in the cir- In calling the station II the cencuit; but it is notthought necessary to specify every detail of this signaling-circuit,Which may obviously be varied, as Well as the other circuits, in diversminor features Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The handle 74 of the commutator of the main substation IV is then turnedto P, giving the commutator the position shown in Fig. 7, making thesame circuit already rst described for station II, (merely transp'osingthe numbers oi' the stations,) and it then receives the message from thecentral station that the latter Wishes to .talk with stationII. Theplug-board c of the mainxsubstation is then'manipulated to close thecircuit through the upper Wire Z and the fWire, f2 to the plugboardlt1of station II, thence through its telephone transmitter and receiver andintervening electrical connections before described to the grounded Wirec", and so back to the central station, -the part of the circuit priorto the' iirst-named plug-board being from the central station and themain line a, With connections before stated, through the connectingdevices Within: the commutator of station IV to binding-post 28 and theintervening Wires and transmitting mechanism of station IV. The mainsubstation IV then notifies the substation II that the central stationWishes to tal-k with the latter. Station II then turns its handle to P,establishing the circuitV first above described. Of course the operationandthe circuits are the same when any other substation is'put intotelephoning-circuit'with the central ofce', except that in statingthecircuit the numbers of the stations should ,be correspondingly changed.

If 'substation I, for example, desires to talk With substation III, theformer turns its handle or switch'74 to H, inserts the plug to closecircuit through the middle Wire Zand the appropriatehouse-Wire`f3,the-parts tak-A ing the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5; The' circuitthen is as follows: From the source of electricity by the main Wire andconnections first above described to station I, thence4 through thetransmitter of the same to the plug-board, the upper'wire Z, thehouse-Wire f3, the plug-board la of station III, and .the Wire g ofstation III, the parts 32 2O 18 10 14 28 and the transmitter andreceiverof` said station III to the binding-post 29,then through parts17, 13, 19, 21, 33,'and/rto the grounded Wire z', and'thence backthrough vthe earth to the source of electrical supply. The parts 33 2119 13 17 29 of theapparatus at station I are included in .this circuit.'Of course the same circuit is formed With merel changes of numerals indescription when anyl of the other substations undertakes a' similarcommunication Within the house or series.

IIO

When a substation-for example, I-'turns y scribed, bring theelectromagnet .44 into .cir-

is free.

cuit. The latter is then through the commutator of said substation byparts 69, 63, 62, 54, 56, and 67 thereof to the wire O, thence throughparts 68, 60, 59, 54, 56, and 67 of the commutator of the next stationin the position of Fig. 5 and in the same manner through the otherstations having their commutators in this latter position of rest, thenby wires p ande' to the binding-post 68 of main substation IV, thenceback to the battery, the magnet 44, and the parts 57, 55, 64, 5, 65, and70, Fig. 6. This permits the commutatorcam of station I to be turnedinto the position shown in Fig. 7 for closing the circuit with thecentral station. If an intermediate station has already put itself intocircuit with the central station, its commutator-cam being inlast-mentioned position breaks the circuit at 59, 62, and 64, and themagnet of stationI will not be energized; but the projection 49 islocked in the recess 50 of the armature and the commutator-cam ofstation I is locked in the position shown in Fig. 6. When theconversation is finished, the commutator-cam of the substation I, orwhichever station is conversing, is turned into to the position of rest,Fig. 2, and the circuit is again closed through the magnet of the mainsubstation IV, withdrawing armature 45 from cam 37 of said station,which is returned to its position of rest, whereupon the hammer 75strikes bell 76, signaling that the line to the central ofiice Eachsubstation may be provided with a bell for the same purpose.

Binding-posts 6 and 7 Of the various stations make it possible for thefunctions of station IV to be taken up by any other substation byconnecting to said posts the telephone transmitter and receiver of suchsubstituted station, the circuit then passing through parts 4 2 6 7 3 5and the ground-wire I; beside the main wire the central station, thesource of electricity and intervening devices hereinbefore described.The system and apparatus as a whole therefore consists of a series oftelephonic or other electric stations, including a main substation whichcontrols the communication of the central station with any of the othersubstations, each substation being provided with a commutator-cam andelectrical contacts arranged so that the said cam is capable of threedifferent axial positions, the circuit being changed accordingly by theturning of the cam, one position thereof leaving the parts normal andinactive, another position thereof providing for communication betweenthe central station and any one of the substations, and a third positionthereof providing for communication between two substations of theseries, each commutator being, furthermore, locked when in the positionfor communication with the central station by an armature governed by aand the central station and closing the line to the latter against allother substations, but

4opening it automatically to any of them when the speaking-circuit isbroken, the arrangement and combination 'of commutatore and conductorsbeing, furthermore, such that when a substation of the series is putincircuit with the central station by the proper adjustment of itscommutator following the announcement of the main substation the otherand inactive substations will be incapable of repeating, receiving, orbeing affected by the message, this inability on the part of thestations not connected for conversation also existing duringconversation between any two substations of the series.

Having now described my invention, I declare that what I claim, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A series of telephone or other electric stations, including a mainstation which controls communication between a-central or otheradditional station and anyA station 4in said series, each station in thesaid series being provided with a commutating device capable of takingany one of three circuit-controlling positions, in combination withcontacts and conductors, one of the said positions leaving the apparatusnormal and inactive, another position making an operative circuitbetween one of the said stations and the central station and the thirdposition making an operative circuit between any two stations of theseries, the conductors being arranged to leave inactive the stations ofthe series which are not in speaking or other active circuitsubstantially as set forth.

2. A series of telephonic or other electric stations, including a mainstation which controls communication between the central station and anystation of said series, each station being provided with a commutatingdevice adapted to be turned into position for closing circuit throughthe telephonic or other indicating devices of the said station and thecentral station in combination with said telephonic devices means forautomatically locking the said commutating device in this position andthereby barring the central officecircuit to all the other stations ofthe series and means for releasing the said commutating device andopening the said circuit to"any of the other stations when the firstcircuit above referred to is open.

3. In a commutator for electric currents in combination with an isolatedground-plate l, a metal plate 2 connected to the admissionwire a, asimilar metal plate 3 connected to the derivation-Wire b, a spring 8fixed to said metal plate 2, a spring 9 fixed to the metal plate 3, acommutator-cam 37 placed between the free ends of said springs 8, 9 saidcam 37 being held rotatory upon a pin 36 on the ground plate l, a handle74 upon said pin outside of a cover 73, metal plates 14, l5 arrangedrespectively right and left of said spring 8 andl IOO IIO

below said metal plate 2, similarly-arranged metal plates 16, 17 rightand left of spring 9, said plates 14 and 17 being respectively connectedto clamps 28, 29, holding the lines to and from the speaking and hearingapparatus m, while the plates 15 and 16 respectively are connected toclamps and 31 respectively, leading to a call-bell e, springs 10 and 11fixed respectively to said plates 14, 15 and springs 12, 13 fixedrespectively to said plates 16, 17 said inner springs 11, 12 beingpressed against contact-pieces 24, 25 respectively of plates 26, 27,while said outer springs 10, 13 by their own elasticity are pressedagainst the contact-pieces 18, 19 of plates 2O or 21 respectively,contact pieces 4() and 41 on springs 10, 13 respectively against whichcontacts 40, 41 the springs 8, 9 respectively may be pressed,contact-pieces 42, 43 on plates 20, 21 respectively making contact withsaid springs 11, 12 respectively when the springs 8, 9 are pressedagainst the contacts 40, 41 of springs 10, 13 respectively, clamps 32,33 on ground-plate 1 for connecting said plates 20 and 21 respectivelyto a speaking-line g and a house-line /t respectively; plates 26, 27 andclamps 34, 35 respectively for connecting said plates 26, 27respectively to the admissionline c and to the derivation-line brespectively, the whole as described and illustrated and for the purposeset forth.

4. In a commutator for electric lines with intermediate stations forcurrents of weak and strong intensity an isolated ground-plate 1 havingfixed thereto metal plates 2, 3, clamps 4, 5, 6, 7, springs 8, 9connected respectively to said plates 2, 3, metal plates 14, 15, 16, 17,springs 10, 11, 12, 13 connected to said plates 14, 15, 16, 17respectively clamps 28, 29 and 30, 31, plates 20, 21, 26 and 27 andclamps 32, 33, 34, 35 respectively, for connecting said plates to aspeaking-line g, a house-line h, anv

admission-line a and a derivation-line respectively, a commutator-cam 37on a pin 36 and a handle 74 fixed thereon in combination with metalplates 56, 57, 60, 63, 65 respectively, springs 54, attached to saidplates 56, 57 respectively, a distance-piece 58 held on spring 54between said springs 54, 55, contact-pieces 59, 62, 64 on plates 60, 63and 65 respectively, clamps 69, 70, 67, 68 for connecting said plates63, 65, 56, tothe controlling-lines p, O respectively, the whole asdescribed and`illustrated and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a commutator for electric lines with intermediate stations forcurrents of weak and strong intensity an isolated ground-plate 1 havingfixed thereto metal plates 2, 3, clamps 4, 5, 6, 7, springs 8, 9connected respectively to said plates 2, 3, metal plates 14, 15, 16, 17springs 10, 11, 12, 13 connected to said plates 14, 15, 16 and 17respectively, clamps 28, 29, 30 and 31, plates 20, 21, 26, 27 and clamps32, 33, 34, 35 respectively for connecting said plates to aspeaking-line g, a house-line 7L, an admission-line a and aderivation-line respectively, metal plates 56, 57, 60, 63, respectively,springs 54, 55 ixed to said plates 56, 57 respectively, a distance-piece58 between said springs, contact-pieces 59, 62, 64 on plates 60, 63 and65 respectively, clamps 69, 70, 67 and 68 for connecting said plates 56,60, 63 and 65 respectively to controlling-lines o and p respectively, acommutator-cam 37 on a pin 36, a handle 74 on said pin, a hub 37 on kthecam 37, supporting said springs 54, 55, projections 61 on hub 37a,lifting the spring 54 out of contact with the plate 60, a projection 66raising both springs so much, that spring 55 comes in contact withcontact-piece 64 of plate 65 in combination with an electromagnet 44, astay 45 held on a bracket 46, a spring 47 tending to pull the stay awayfrom the magnet, a pin 48 limiting the path of thestay, a recess 50 onthe Lipper side of the same, a projection 49 on the lower side of thecommutator-cam limiting the turning of the commutator-cam, when the stayis not attracted by the magnet 44, a spring 52 connected to thecommutator-cam and a rod 51 having the tendency to press the same towardthe rightl side, the whole as described and illustrated and for thepurpose set forth.

` 6'. In a commutator for electric lines with intermediate stations forcurrents of weak and strong intensity an isolated ground-plate 1, metalplates 2, 3 fixed thereon, springs 8, 9 attached to said platesrespectively, knobs 38 at the end of said springs in combination with acommutator-cam 37 on a pin 36 carrying a handle 74, said cam havingrecesses 39 at diametrically opposite sides for holding the springsspread asunder by the knobs 38 falling into said recesses when the camis turned, a spring 52 connected to said cani by a rod 51 and held fastat one end to the groundplate 1, said spring tending to press thecommutator-cam into its position of rest, a hammer 75 fixed to thehandle 74 of the commutator-cam 37 a bell 76 fixed on the cover 73 ofthe commutator-case so, that the bell isl made to sound when thecommutator-'cam is IOO IIO

brought in its normal position of rest, thereby indicating that the lineis free; the whole as described and illustrated and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

CARL HEINRICH PRTT.

Witnesses Orro KNIG, EMIL BLOMBERG.

